Superfoods are going mainstream

Go goji. The little berry with big bursts of vitamins, protein and antioxidants is one of the new culinary buzz words. Why? It's good for you. Actually, according to research giant Euromonitor International and the health trend-spotter Natural Marketing Institute, it's great for you. Easy-eating, too. Pop goji berries into your mouth for a mid-afternoon snack or add them to smoothies or salads. Work flaxseeds into your diet, along with acai, mangosteen, amino acids, black rice and black sesame, and you'll be pumping up the volume of antioxidants, cancer-fighters and cholesterol-reducers fortifying your body, according to Specialty Food magazine. We found the following items at Whole Foods, Route 35, Middletown; a walk through many local natural-foods markets or better-stocked supermarkets will yield you myriad incarnations of the new superfoods.

1) ACAI. Pronounced uh-SAH-ee. It's a little berry from South America with a very high concentration of antioxidants, fiber and amino acids. Its juice is reddish-purple, with a mild berry flavor. Mix with other juices, balance out with tea, stir into smoothies, shakes and yogurt. This quart bottle of Lakewood Organic Acai Amazon Berry retails for about $3.99.

2) MANGOSTEEN. From Southeast Asia, notably Thailand. Find this tropical fruit in juices, fresh, pureed, as an extract. It's high in antioxidants and is said to contain antitumor, antifungal and antibacterial properties. It's a bit citrusy, mild and sweet in a very subtle way. It's pricey: A quart of Lakewood Mangosteen costs about $15.99.

3) SUPER FRUIT SPREAD. Here's another way to catch some acai, in this organic spread from Crofter's. Search supermarkets and health-food stores and you'll find the new superfoods, empowering ordinary foods such as jams and jellies, sorbets and yogurts, even sodas. Crofter's 10-ounce jar of spread sells for about $3.19.

4) BLACK RICE. Those on gluten-free diets flock to the "black foods" of Asia. Black rice, slightly sticky and extremely aromatic, is packed with iron and holds true to its whole-grain status in the nutrition department. Use in pilafs and stir-fries or chill and use in salads with veggies and dried fruits. Lotus Foods' Forbidden Black Rice retails for about $4.39 a 15-ounce bag.

5) AMINO ACIDS. Eating foods rich in amino acids helps to form protein that builds muscles and bones and aids in organ functions. While you can find amino acids in specific foods, Bragg Liquid Aminos is an all-purpose seasoning with 16 essential amino acids that can be added to salad dressings, to stir-fries, to all manner of casseroles ? and even sprayed on popcorn. A 6-ounce jar is $2.99.

6) BLACK SESAME. With cholesterol-lowering properties, this wheat-free protein from Asia, Central and South America, and Mexico also is a taste treat. Black sesame seeds are naturally smoky and add spirit to simple rice crackers, such as these from San J. A 3.7-ounce package costs $3.39.

7) GOJI BERRIES. Way high in Vitamin C, with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this berry hails from the Himalayas. It contains the trace mineral germanium, which is a big anti-cancer mineral and tough to find in foods. Dried gojis are popular snacks; they're mildly tangy, a tad tart. Flavor Tree's 8-ounce bag retails for $7.99.

8) FLAXSEED. Rich in plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids, this seed has cholesterol-lowering properties and is a popular player in the heart-health arena. Fiber? Yup. Use flaxseeds in hot and cold cereals, bake into muffins and breads, sprinkle in pancake batter. Buy them in bulk form for about $1.79 a pound.

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